The sky had just begun to spit droplets of rain when Michiru returned home. Picking up her pace, she rushed up the stairs to her door and quickly darted inside. Shortly after she had done so, she heard the drizzle turn to a downpour.
Talk about a close one, she thought lightly.
She slipped out of her stiff high-heels and rolled her head from side to side. The call had taken longer than she had initially anticipated; she didn't hang the phone up until at least forty minutes after the conversation was initiated. Not only that, but it had taken a lot out of her, both mentally and emotionally.
Michiru moved to the bathroom adjacent to her bedroom and gulped down two aspirin followed by a small amount of water. Although she didn't have one, she didn't want to get a headache at this time.
She needed to think.
I got what I needed there, she thought, referring to the phone conversation earlier.
Now came the even more difficult task; conveying how she really felt to Mark himself.
She started pacing back and forth in order to organize her thoughts.
She knew how much Mark meant to her; if she hadn't before, now it was obvious. Over the past few weeks, he had grown from a co-worker, to a friend, to a confidant, and now…to a person that she cared about more than anything else in the world. She would do anything for him at this point, cross any boundary, complete any task. If it meant making him happy, then she would do it. Just to see him smile…
Oh, his smile…!
Merely picturing it was enough to make Michiru shiver in delight. It was so infectious, so breath-taking how his smile affected her. Even when every other part of him was covered in grease and soot, completely coated in dirt from head to toe, his smile lost none of its power. Coupled with his beautiful brown eyes, the thought was enough to make Michiru melt into a pile of goo.
She shivered again. I can't keep this inside me any longer, she confirmed. If I don't tell him how I feel…I'll never be able to forgive myself…
She began to go over possibilities, first in her mind and then out loud.
"Mark…" she began. "We've been friends…for a while now and…I need to tell you that I…"
No, that's too abrupt. Don't spring it on him too quickly.
"Um…how are you, Mark....?" She shook her head.
Definitely not starting with that!
Michiru divested herself of her jacket and moved her arms in wide, circular motions.
She had to do this right. Had to!
Mark's confession had only made it more important that she make an equally meaningful confession to him. It didn't seem fair to respond only in the simplest of ways to something like that.
"Mark…I…I heard what you said…about me and…"
No, I can't tell him that.
She still didn't quite know how Mark would react if he found out that she had been listening in on something that she shouldn't have been.
"Oh…Mark…I know…well…the last few weeks have just been…really amazing. I mean…you…you've done so much for me…and…and I just…I-I just thought I should tell you…that…augh…"
Michiru threaded her hands through her black hair and cringed. She was probably making this much harder on herself than it needed to be.
But it's Mark…she reminded herself. Remember how he's made you feel these past few weeks…at the banquet…at dinner…and when we danced…
Danced…
A clap of lightning and a thunderous boom resounded through her apartment as she opened her eyes slowly and blinked. She was looking at herself in her bathroom mirror and had been for the past few moments. In effect, she had been talking with to herself.
She turned and quickly headed for the living room.
I need to feel it…how it felt to dance with him…how it felt to be with him…then I'll be able to figure out what I should say…
The album was resting on top of the shelf containing her music; she had been listening to it so much lately that she knew exactly where it was situated. Placing it into the player, she stepped back, closed her eyes, and waited.
The atmospheric sounds slowly began to filter through the carefully positioned speakers and into her apartment. Michiru allowed the blissfully melodic movements to envelop and consume her.
I don't want you to give what you don't have.
Don't make a vow that you can't keep.
I don't want you to change your position.
Don't hang around just to please me.
As the song sailed smoothly along, Michiru found herself being transported into the heavenly realm that she desired so much.
The moonlight shone brilliantly upon and all around her. Her hair and eyes sparkled in the same manner as did the lights in the distance. Everything was exactly as it should be.
Except…
Michiru…
But I have one request,
And if you don't think it's senseless,
Let me give you something else…
Her heart started beating at a frenzied pace when she heard his voice. Smiling, she slowly turned over her right shoulder and came face to face with him.
Mark was smiling back at her, looking every bit as handsome and debonair as he was in real life.
Mark…!
He extended his hand toward her invitingly. She took it willingly, without hesitation.
Let me love you, let me love you.
Free of all rituals, nothing habitual.
Something you can sink your teeth into
Let me love you, let me love you.
Free of where have you been,
Freedom what's take command
Something you can fall right back into.
My love for you…
They spun and twirled together in graceful strides, allowing the music to guide them as they danced. Neither of them permitted their smiles to disappear and it was rare that their eyes ever lost contact with each other. His touch was so gentle and warm that it was like nothing else that she had ever felt.
It only served to strengthen the feelings that she had for him, the overwhelming sense that she could not live her life normally if he wasn't there by her side.
Staring into his beautiful eyes at this moment, Michiru was more certain than ever that she loved him.
We can go deep if you need to.
I won't draw a line that runs against you.
Don't hold back if you're afraid to.
A sensual sin is what awaits you.
Amidst a quick series of thunder booms, Michiru heard herself say the words that she desperately wanted to say.
Oh Mark…I love you so much…
The thunder sounded again, causing Michiru to abruptly open her eyes and bring her back into the real world. She was about to curse mother nature for interrupting her dream sequence, but then the load banging noise came again.
Michiru suddenly realized that someone was knocking on her door.
Racing over to shut off the song, Michiru nearly slipped and had to support herself against the countertop in order to maintain her balance.
That affected me more than I thought…she thought sheepishly.
The knock came again and Michiru, now growing slightly annoyed, stalked over to the front door to her apartment and flung it open.
"Look, whatever it is-!"
She gasped and stepped back when she saw him standing there. He was completely soaked from head to toe, his brown hair sticking to his forehead, his glasses fogged up to the point where his eyes were completely blocked out. He was breathing heavily with jagged gasps.
Michiru could barely find the strength to speak. "…Mark…?" she breathed.
"I had…" he panted, his voice barely audible over the sound of the rain hitting the ground behind him, "…I had…to see you…Michiru…"
"W-What do you…did you walk here?!" Michiru's voice contained more of an edge than she would have liked.
Mark shook his head. "I…ran…"
"What do you do that for?" Michiru demanded. She stepped closer to him and touched his ice cold cheek with her hand. "Oh…you're going to make yourself sick…"
He shook his head again, placing his equally cold hand over hers. "I'm okay…really…"
"No you're not! Look at you…you're completely soaked. Oh, get in here you idiot." She took him by the hand and pulled him inside.
Mark covered his mouth and nose with both hands as he sneezed violently again. He groaned and kept his head down until the pressure subsided and he shivered, despite the added warmth provided by the blanket around his shoulders.
He had managed to control his running nose with a constant array of tissues, but the sneezing and the shivering had not ceased.
Only after he had been pulled into Michiru's apartment had the symptoms begun to take hold. Now however, they were in full force, and Mark was wondering whether or not his spur-of-the-moment actions had been justified.
When he brought his gaze back up, he found himself staring at a plain white cup with steam rising from it.
"Here. Drink this," Michiru advised him.
"What is it…?" Mark asked, in the midst of another shiver.
"Green tea."
"Uh…" Mark was about to admit that he didn't particularly like tea, but Michiru interrupted before he could refuse.
"Don't say you don't like it. I don't care." Mark dropped his head slightly upon seeing and hearing how upset she was. Michiru, upon noticing this, allowed her expression to soften. She placed the cup on the coffee table near them and leaned forward to pull the blanket tighter around his shoulders. "It will make you feel better," she said quietly.
Mark was silent for a few moments; he attempted to combat the shivers himself, but it was to no avail. Eventually, he took the warm cup in his hands and gingerly sipped at its contents.
The tea did his taste buds no good and he tightened his throat as he drank it. However, the tea was able to settle his insides with its warmth and also helped to make him stop shivering. So there was at least something to compensate for its bad taste.
Mark glanced up at Michiru and nodded slowly. "Thank…thank you…"
Michiru unfolded her arms and sighed. "Are you feeling better?"
Mark nodded again. "Yes…"
"I can't believe you ran all the way here in this kind of a monsoon," Michiru said, dumbfounded. The rain was continuing to stream down outside. Neither of them had seen it rain this hard in quite a while.
"I…I had…ugh, I'm sorry," Mark said hoarsely. He gulped down some more of the tea and made an uneasy face.
Rolling her eyes, Michiru made her way over to the adjacent sofa and sat down. "It can't be that bad, Mark."
"I'm sorry," he responded. "I've just never had a taste for tea." He managed to smile somewhat. "But since you made it, I'll make an exception."
Michiru rolled her eyes again. "Now isn't the time for flattering, Mark."
"Okay."
Michiru smiled lightly. "I still don't understand one thing though, Mark," she said frankly. "What made you run here all the way here in a monsoon?"
Mark paused in the middle of a sip. He was suddenly reminded of why he had sprinted out into the middle of a deluge in order to make it to this very spot. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye; just seeing her now was enough to make his insides squirm.
Here's your chance, Ramsey.
Mark set the cup down on the coffee table and folded his hands. "Um…well, actually…I uh…"
He stumbled over his words, trying to find the right ones to fit the situation. He glanced at her again. Her expression was curious, but not impatient. Her gray eyes contained a dash of sincerity, coupled with a sprinkling of disbelief.
He guessed that she still couldn't understand his reason for being here, which made his next words that much more important.
His heart-rate increased as he attempted to speak again. "Well…the reason…that I…uh…you know…" He couldn't bring himself to construct a sentence; he was too nervous. "I…my car broke…and I…uh…ah…I, uh…"
He was beating himself up now for being so much of a bumbling idiot. Here it was; his chance to confess to the girl he cared more for than anything else and he was blowing it badly.
Then he felt her hand gently cover his own. He looked at her; her expression had not changed one bit.
"Mark…whatever it is that you have to say…just say it."
His mouth opened slightly, but he quickly closed it again. Looking at her now, he realized that all of the pressure and nervousness that he was subjecting himself to was pointless. He knew that she wouldn't think less of him if he told her the truth, that wasn't Michiru. She would listen to what he had to say and then she would answer in her typical style; frank, concise, truthful.
Mark took a deep breath and brought his own hand up to cover hers. He felt her tense slightly. "Sorry…" he whispered, starting to move his hand away.
She stopped him. "No, it's just that…you're hand's pretty cold…"
Mark couldn't help but smile. "Oh…" She smiled back at him.
Mark took a moment to compose himself and then began to speak.
"Michiru…we've known each other for a while…five years, right?"
"Yes."
"I've enjoyed every moment of it. Every day when I come into the shop…when I'm given the opportunity to work on the mechs and interact with everyone involved in the team…Takeshi, Liz, Amy, Andrei, Jessie, everyone…it's more than I could have ever hoped for when I first started working with you."
"And I've also enjoyed working with you personally, Michiru. When I first came here, I didn't know anyone…I was far from home, away from everyone I knew, and I didn't know what to expect. I was just some idiot chasing a dream. But…when I first met you…I knew that I had made the right decision. You were kind, helpful, and very open…that helped me tremendously when I first came here. More than you can imagine."
"Whenever I would come to work…even though most of the time I was wrapped up in my work to make sure the Team succeeded…and we didn't get to see much of each other…whenever you would come down to see me about something…I looked forward to it."
"I know, I sometimes was unnerved at your presence and I acted like I didn't want you to come down to the shop…but that was a result of me having put so much into my work. Whenever I would really get into something involving the mechs, any interruption would make me react the same way I did with you. Ask Takeshi or any of the others…it wasn't just you who would cause me to react like that."
"But every time I did that…you always took it well…better than I could have hoped as a matter of fact. I really appreciated that…and I still do."
He continued. "Lately though…I-I've found myself feeling something else…something different than what I've felt before."
"I…I can't exactly explain it…because I've never felt something like in my life before. Whenever I'm with you…or even speak with you, I feel as though I'm in a place where nothing else matters. Everything that's on my mind…everything that could get me down both physically and emotionally…it all disappears whenever I'm with you."
"And then to top it all off, whenever we're apart, it feels as though a part of me is missing as well. It's like I can't live my life to the fullest if you're not there…"
"I-I didn't understand what all that meant for a while…even at the restaurant last week…I couldn't understand what was making me feel like this."
"But then…today…when we talked with my parents…I finally realized what it all meant. When I thought about the prospect of not being able to see you again for a long time…let alone not being able to hear your voice and see your face…I couldn't stand it. I was tearing myself up inside. I knew I wouldn't have a choice eventually…I would have to go back at some point…but after what we've done recently…I couldn't…I couldn't stand to think about it. I just couldn't."
"And then…when you said I should do what I wanted to…when you only thought of me in that situation…it…it sent me over the edge."
"I can't go work for my parents. I can't leave you. I don't care what it means for me or us, I'm not going to do it. I'm going to stay here with you…and everyone else. Because….because…"
He swallowed hard before he uttered his next words.
"Because I love you…Michiru…"
Her expression didn't change at all; her eyes, lips, face, and body all remained stoic and still. Worry began to creep up inside of him, but Mark shoved it down and merely dropped his head so that he couldn't look at her.
"I know it's sudden…but that's what I needed to tell you. That's why I ran all the way here in a rainstorm. I love you…but I know I can't make you love me in return. So I just wanted you to know that…"
He smiled. "I know I'm not very good at this kind of thing…but I really don't know what else to say…"
It was then that he felt her fingers slip under his chin and gently lift it up so that their faces were level with one another. To Mark's shock, Michiru was now smiling.
"You don't have to say anything else, Mark." Before he could say anything else, she pressed her lips gently to his.
Mark's eyes widened to the point where they could have fallen out of their sockets. His lips were trembling against hers, but Michiru's were still, confident, and warm. The feeling was indescribable.
When they separated, she was smiling at him, her gray eyes sparkling.
Mark tried to speak, but the words caught in his mouth. He was still in a state of shock.
Michiru spoke instead. "You look like you got hit by a truck." That shocked Mark even more.
Is it that obvious?!
Eventually however, he managed to smile somewhat and his tension eased. "Well…that's exactly what it feels like."
She laughed. His insides twisted.
"Michiru…wha…what…?"
"Mark," she whispered her face just inches from his own. "Everything you just said…I feel the exact same way about you."
His eyes widened and his mouth went aghast. This was what he had hoped would ultimately be her response, but he wasn't expecting it to be this quick, this sure.
"Michiru…does t-that mean…?"
She nodded slowly. "I love you, Mark."
All the tension seemed to explode within him in a grand supernova that rattled every inch of his being. The instant those words left her beautiful mouth, Mark was catapulted into a field of ecstasy.
He attempted to respond, but upon failing to say anything, simply took her face in his hands and kissed her passionately. She hummed in satisfaction as they kissed, the seconds passing as if they were eons.
Gradually, his senses returned and Mark found himself staring into her beautiful gray eyes and smiling face. He didn't quite know how he had managed to pull her into his lap, but he wasn't going to complain about that one bit.
"You okay?" she asked playfully, noticing his expression hadn't changed all that much.
Mark took care of that and smiled. "Yes." He reached up to caress her beautiful face and hair. "I can't believe this…I can't believe you actually…"
She closed her eyes and pressed her cheek against his. "Believe it, Mark. Isn't it wonderful what parents can do," she murmured.
Parents…
Oh no!
"Oh…" Mark brought his hand up to his head and cringed. "Oh, dammit…"
"Mark?" Michiru asked.
"I forgot about my parents," he responded. "What am I going to about them…? I mean…I can't leave you, Michiru. Not after this…but…what am I going to tell them?"
To his surprise, she smiled again. "You don't have to worry about that, Mark."
He frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"
Michiru tucked a lock of black hair behind her ear. "Mark…I heard what you said earlier…" He was still unsure of what she was talking about. "On the phone…when you were talking alone with your parents."
Realization dawned on his face. "Wait…you…you heard that?"
She nodded. "Every word."
Mark didn't know how to respond. Suddenly, his entire journey here had all of a sudden become almost meaningless. That realization made him realize something else.
He laughed. "Then that means I ran all the way here in a downpour for no reason!" He smacked himself lightly on the side of the head. "Way to go, Ramsey."
Michiru laughed whole-heartedly at his reaction. "I wouldn't say you came her for no reason."
Mark smiled at her. "Now that you mention it…I think I should start coming down here more often." She narrowed her eyes slyly at him. "But you were saying something earlier…about how my parents wouldn't be a problem."
"Right. Well…after you had said what you said…and right after you hung up…and I realized how much I cared for you, Mark…I knew that I had to do something so that we would be able to do this," she explained. "So I made a phone call."
Mark blinked. "You called my parents?" She nodded. "What did they say? How was it?"
"Well…it was kind of odd at first…because I had to get used to being referred to as your girlfriend."
Mark grinned. "But you did get used to it?"
"Of course. In fact, I rather liked being called that after a while." She continued, "But your parents were very understanding of the situation, Mark. We talked for a little while and eventually reached a conclusion that benefited all of us."
"You mean I won't have to go work for them?"
"Oh no, you'll still be working for them in the off-season." Mark's mouth dropped, but Michiru continued before he could say anything. "However…because of your current…relationship…your parents are allowing to you work in one of the company's regional offices in this city. So you won't have to go anywhere."
"Isn't that wonderful?" Michiru asked. "You can stay here now, Mark…with me…"
Mark slowly smiled. "I think I love you more already." He kissed her again. "My only regret now is that I have to go back out into the rain after this."
"Oh, no, no, no," Michiru responded, shaking her head. "You're not going anywhere, Mark."
"What?"
"You're staying here with me, tonight."
Mark's replying expression was enough to make her realize the gravity of what she had just said.
"Let me rephrase that," she said deliberately. "It is currently raining cats and dogs outside…and you have already run through it and made yourself sick. Therefore, it wouldn't be responsible for me as your superior…to let you go back out there…especially with the championship race coming up. So…you are going to be spending the night here at my apartment…which I just also happen to be in. Do you understand what I meant, now?"
Mark shrugged. "Of course. I understood it the first time you said it so I don't see the reason why you had to explain it."
She smirked. "That was to get your mind away from the bed, Mark."
He frowned. "I was not thinking about that!"
"Oh, yes you were."
"I was not!" Mark reiterated. "And I have never thought about that before."
"Mark…" Michiru said slyly.
He couldn't contain his blush. He brought his hand up to his temple and conceded, "Well…maybe a little…"
To his surprise, she laughed. "I knew it."
"You're not mad?"
"Of course not, silly. In fact," she nuzzled her head into his neck, "I'm going to take that as a compliment."
Mark smiled again and sighed in relief.
"For now."
He frowned.
They stayed like that for a long time, the persistent tapping of the rain on the windows the only sound that could be heard in the entire apartment.
"Michiru?" he whispered.
"Yes?"
"What are we going to tell the others?" She glanced at him quizzically. "Takeshi and everyone else on the Team, I mean. What do well tell them…about us?"
She smiled. "We'll worry about that later."
He smiled back at her and kissed her again.
Later was good.